Round Walk

A great walk exploring the upper section of Furber Steps. Starting at the Katoomba Kiosk, this walk visits Witches Leap, Juliets Balcony and Vanimans Lookout to loop back to the Kiosk. There are great views down the Kedumba Valley and of many of the surrounding features. A well shaded walk with some pleasant rain forest areas along a well signposted track. There are plenty of stairs, mostly with handrails.

Katoomba Falls Kiosk

The Katoomba Falls Kiosk serves a variety of light and healthy meals including breakfast, lunch and Devonshire teas. A drink enjoyed here will add to the experience of any local bushwalk. For more information, phone (02) 4782-4868. More info.

Moderate track

From Katoomba Falls Kiosk, this walk heads out the front doors and turns left following the side of the building, past the car park to the small park, which it crosses, passing the water fountain and the large information signs to the signposted intersection of the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ and the track heading to ‘Scenic Railway & Skyway’.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Reids Plateau’ sign down the concrete stairs, passing a ‘Greenspace Project’ sign. The walk continues down to the bottom of the stairs and to the intersection of the Katoomba Falls Walk and the Prince Henry Cliff Walk (unsignposted).

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Katoomba Falls Track’ sign down the hill, winding down a few sets of wooden steps as it passes a small rest area at a rock overhang, and continues down through the gully to the Witches Leap Lookout.Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the track heading down the hill, winding down some wooden steps that zigzag back down towards the creek, which it crosses at the footbridge. The walk then continues up a short hill and along through the forest, winding down a few more sets of wooden steps before coming to the signposted intersection of the Furber Steps track.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Scenic Skyway’ sign down the wooden steps, then flattens out for a short distance before continuing up the other side, climbing up the long, steep set of wooden steps. At the top, the walk comes to the intersection of the Round Walk and the Juliets Balcony track (unsignposted).

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the short set of wooden steps, winding up to the raised rock platform, and along the bush track to the edge of the fenced-off rock shelf. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.

Juilets Balcony

Juliets Balcony is a spectacular lookout, perched on top of a rock buttress near Orphan Rock, under the Scenic Skyway. The lookout provides sweeping views of the start of the Kedumba Valley, from Katoomba Falls to the Three Sisters. The lookout is accessed by a staircase, off the Furber Steps track. The fenceline continues along the lookout, forming a long, fenced balcony.

Hard track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads to the top of the metal stairs. The track then continues steeply up through the bush, climbing to Vanimans Lookout.

Vaniman’s Lookout

Vaniman’s Lookout is a fenced, long and narrow lookout on the cliff edge, opposite Reids Plateau. The view looks directly over the Three Sisters across the Kedumba Valley, under the Scenic Skyway. The lookout was considered one of the finest views on the Three Sisters in the 1900’s. The lookout was named after Chester Melvin Vaniman in 1905, a well-know adventurer and artist from the USA, who visited the Blue Mountains in 1903. More info.

Hard track

Turn left: From Vanimans Lookout, this walk heads up the wooden steps, climbing up the hill through the bush until it comes to the intersection with the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Caravan Park’ sign along the bush track that winds along the side of the hill, heading through the forest to the signposted intersection of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk at the back of the park, near the Katoomba Falls Kiosk.

Cross sectional view of the Round Walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Round Walk

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

Length

854 m

Time

45 mins

.

Grade 4/6

Hard track

AS 2156.1

Gradient

Very steep (4/6)

Quality of track

Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)

Signs

Clearly signposted (1/6)

Experience Required

Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)

Weather

Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Infrastructure

Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

450m of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 200m has short steep hills. Whilst another 110m is very steep and the remaining 100m is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

450m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 370m follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (40m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.

Signs

This whole walk, 850m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 710m of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 150m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 850m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 770m of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 90m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Round Walk walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-bmnp-rw
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.